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February 28, 2008
Res Life: No singles for sophomores
Elysia Glover
Room draw procedure will be unusual this spring due to the closing of Davison House and its 191 residents that will be displaced.
FBI whistleblower Rowley discusses terrorism, civil liberties
Acacia O'Connor
In a lecture entitled “How not to counter terrorism,” Coleen Rowley, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent, gave a room packed with students a glimpse into federal intelligence.
Three companies contend for dining contract
Elysia Glover
The three candidates vying for next year’s dining service contract with Vassar were announced last Friday, Feb. 22. Last year, the College decided to bid out the contract to Dining Services, currently operated by Aramark, which expires in June 2008.
Gender-neutral housing option postpones
Brian Farkas
The College’s Senior Officers have decided to postpone the implementation of a gender-neutral housing policy for the 2008-2009 academic year.
Northwestern journalism dean faces scandal over fake sources
Hayley Tsukayama
Sixteen current and former faculty members at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism have demanded that Dean of Medill John Lavine explain his decision to use anonymous quotes in his column for the school’s alumnae/i magazine, <i>Medill</i>.
Staff Editorial | Gannett issue raises concerns about newspaper ownership
The Green Glance | Coal industry under scrutiny by major banks, government
Nathan Zucker
Dependence on coal is no longer a source of pride for modern society; rather, it is one of the biggest problems we must confront. Coal contributes to global warming more than any other fossil fuel, and it is also responsible for serious air pollution in urban areas.
The Voting Booth | Should delegates decide the primary?
Allison Good
Delegate this, superdelegate that; isn’t it enough to have to deal with the Electoral College? Apparently not, because the process of choosing presidential candidates is very complicated, and those involved often refuse to play by the rules.
Letters to the Editor | Vassar-run food service preferable, but not possible
R & SL Day brings spirituality out of the Chapel
Mike Alberti
This first annual R & SL Day will be held in the Chapel and the College Center is a collaboration between the RSL office and the 12 different campus groups that it advises and supports.
Students apply for summer internships as deadlines approach
Sarah Goetz
Students applying for various internships, fellowships and other job opportunities are scrambling to polish résumés and submit applications before the deadlines pass in the coming weeks.
Admissions balances rising applicant pool, fewer spots
Mike Ilardi
“We’re a brand new team: We’ve got new faces, a new identity,” said men’s volleyball co-captain Scott Leserman ’09. For the men’s volleyball team this season is all about change. Head Coach Jonathan Penn has returned from sabbatical, and the Brewers have finally become full members the Metro Division of the North Eastern Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA).
Weekly Spotlight | Hunger Action: Peanut Butter Jammin' to fill local need
Stephanie Damon-Moore
For the members of Vassar College’s Hunger Action Committee, the appeal is in the title: Action. The group is dedicated to relieving hunger and homelessness. Members volunteer at The Lunchbox, Poughkeepsie’s local soup kitchen, once a week, and serve lunch at Beulah Baptist Church on a monthly basis.
Penetrating Questions | How having sex could improve your game
Jina Ashline
Is it bad to have sex before a sports game?
On the Job | From Miscellany editor to PR Pro
VRDT infuses show with sexuality, apathy and conflict
Jackson Reeves
Vassar Repertory Dance Theater (VRDT) is performing at the nearby Bardavon 1869 Opera House in preparation for its 26th Final Showing. Faculty, student and guest choreographers are offering up a medley of pieces covering topics such as apathy, sexuality, dehumanization and clan warfare.
One-woman show channels Zora Neale Hurston
Sarah Rebell
Famed American author Zora Neale Hurston wrote about the issues facing African-American women at a time when it was difficult for them to find an outlet. Vassar students will have the opportunity to see a one-woman play about Hurston’s fascinating life, performed by Kim Brockington.
No-ViCE brings novice, alternative bands to Vassar
Gulfem Demiray
No-ViCE has been bringing little-known yet talented bands to Vassar since it was created as a subdivision of Vassar College Entertainment (ViCE) in Fall 2006.
Music Box | Autechre
Mike Newmark
The 15-year-old Autechre (Sean Booth and Rob Brown from Sheffield, England) has remained a fixture in electronica not by reinventing itself with changing times, but by adhering rigidly to a single aesthetic as though time didn’t exist.
Giddy up! Equestrian team gets ready for show
Caroline Dunn-Rankin
On March 1, the Vassar equestrian team will host its first horse show in three years at Valley Crest Farms in Millbrook, N.Y. The team, which is an entirely student-run club sport funded by the Vassar Student Association, competes in approximately 10 shows a year.
The College Court | Don't worry Vassar, we're only winning
Emma Carmichael
Last Friday night, Feb. 22., the Vassar men’s volleyball team beat Nazareth College, then ranked No. 1 in the country, in only three games: 30-23, 30-28, 30-24. Prior to the win, the American Volleyball Coaches Association had ranked Vassar No. 6 in the country.
Sports Briefs | Ski team frozen by more than the weather
Amelia Maxfield
By a unanimous vote on Sunday Feb. 24, the Vassar Student Association (VSA) froze Vassar ski team activites. In response to what co-captain Scott Pascal ’10 called “an accounting error,” VSA essentially rendered the team ineffective.
Backpage | Vassar Admissions
Vassar Admissions has a beautiful new website filled with student bios and fun facts! The Backpage has the inside scoop on facts and stats that Admissions won't tell you.
February 21, 2008
SAU, union leader to protest Aramark
Elysia Glover
With Vassar’s contract with current food service provider Aramark coming up for re-bid on June 30, 2008, the North American labor union UNITE HERE and Vassar activist groups have begun organizing a campaign to remove the corporation that has serviced campus dining since 1989.
Harvard will publish faculty research in database
Christine Vines
The Faculty of Arts and Science at Harvard University voted for a change in publication policy on Tuesday, Feb. 12 that will allow the university to post finished academic papers for free online.
Freshmen forced to drop English course
Hayley Tsukayama
On Tuesday, Feb. 12, several freshmen students enrolled in English 298, an independent study, received an e-mail from the Dean of Studies Chris Roellke, informing them that they did not meet the prerequisites for independent study in the English department.
Admissions office releases new publications and Web site
Brian Farkas
Vassar College’s Office of Admissions launched a redesigned line of brochures and view books, along with a new Web site, on Tuesday, Feb. 19. This is the first major overhaul of recruiting material in about seven years.
Food Committee to pick vendor finalist this week
Hayley Tsukayama
In early March, the final bidders will give presentations for Food Committee members, rather than the open forum the committee had planned for in the fall.
Conference encourages leadership development
Brian Farkas
The Leadership for Change series, which began two weeks ago on Feb. 5, has garnered a strong reception from students. The series will feature some 17 different discussions led by members of the administration and Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council.
Staff Editorial | Education key to curtailing dangerous drinking culture
What’s the maximum amount of alcohol that a person of your build can handle before alcohol poisoning (a potentially life-threatening condition) occurs? It appears that many Vassar students do not know the answer, according to a group of deans who recently presented statistics that indicate an increase in high-risk drinking at the College.
Abortion incident reveals fragility of women’s rights
Claudia Martinuzzi
While Naples has dealing with a crisis of mounting garbage, an even more disturbing incident has occured: the confiscation of an aborted fetus by local authorities. This incident, along with others in both Italy and the United States, shows that women’s rights are still a crucial issue.
The Green Glance | Healthy options sorely lacking in dining system
Nathan Zucker
As I entered the All Campus Dining Center (ACDC) on Valentine’s Day, I noticed that something important was missing: healthy food. Walking from station to station, it was obvious that Aramark’s menu emphasized fried foods and dairy products, and not vegetables or whole grains.
The Voting Booth | Candidates' spouses bring new dynamic to race
Allison Good
The men’s and women’s fencing teams had their debut in the New England Fencing Championships on Feb. 17 at Dartmouth College, marking the team’s official induction into the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Conference
Letters to the Editor | Declining intramural program requires serious boost
Green Party hosts State Conference
Mike Alberti
On Saturday, Feb. 23, Vassar will host the New York State Campus Greens Conference, where representatives from Green Party chapters of colleges and universities across the state will meet to hold a day-long series of workshops and events concerning Green politics.
Fencer wins New England championship title
Amelia Maxfield
The men’s and women’s fencing teams had their debut in the New England Fencing Championships on Feb. 17 at Dartmouth College, marking the team’s official induction into the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Conference
Women’s swimming pumped for State tourney
Kelly Capehart
After long months of training and competing, the Vassar women’s swim team is nearing the pinnacle of their season. The NY State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championship will take place this weekend. Vassar will be among the 17 schools competing.
Are Vassar students drinking dangerously?
Alexandra Matthews
Sarah Siegel
In 2007 Vassar Emergency Medical Services (EMS) received 130 calls, a nearly 50 percent increase from 2006, and a 130 percent increase from 2002. Forty-five students had to be hospitalized, and 50 went to Baldwin, the majority for alcohol-related problems.
Overtime | New year, same steroid story
Kyle Nelson
You’d think baseball players would learn at least one thing: Don’t use steroids. Or, if you are going to use steroids, don’t get caught. That being said, I think baseball players should learn another thing, something that most are taught at an extremely young age: Don’t lie.
Study abroad inspires students to live simply
Rukshana Jalil
When students return from being abroad in developing countries, they may come back with more than language mastery or a renewed cultural awareness; some come back with a desire to simplify their lives and use only necessities.
Adam Langer '88 to read from novel
Sarah Goetz
Adam Langer ’88 began his writing career on the rooftops of Cushing House.n Monday, Feb. 25, Langer, now a published author, will read from his latest novel, Ellington Boulevard, in Taylor Hall Room 203 at 5:30 p.m.
Habitat for Humanity plans alternative spring break
Rukshana Jalil
While many Vassar students will be spending their spring breaks with family or having fun in the sun with friends, part of the Vassar chapter of Habitat for Humanity will travel for 20 hours by car to spend one week helping to construct a house in Sebring, Fla.
Men's tennis confident after openers
Elizabeth Anderson
Caroline Dunn-Rankin
This past weekend, the men’s tennis team began their spring season with two definitive wins over Manhattanville College and Stevens Institute of Technology, victories that portend good things to come.
Penetrating Questions | Looking beyond latex as a condom choice
Jina Ashline
Is a non-latex condom safe to use? Penetrating Questions tackles another campus query.
Seven floors of deadly sin seduce students
Chelsea Mitamura
On Saturday, Feb. 16, Vassar students unleashed their sinful, sexy selves in Jewett House’s hallways to celebrate the annual Seven Deadly Sins party, originally conceived to utilize the newly renovated tower floors of Jewett. It has since turned into one of the most lavish all-campus events of the year.
Vassar Technology Today | YouTube not the only way to get attention online
Matthew Leung
The ideas that get attention online are very different from those that receive media attention on TV, radio and in newspapers. So different, in fact, that many people do not realize that there exist other online paths to notoriety besides blogs and YouTube .
Town House Co-Op construction reassigned to Habitat for Humanity
A change in plan resulting from the unreliability of construction companies takes future THs in a new direction. Fill out your application today!
Feminist historian lectures
Sarah Siegel
On Tuesday Feb. 19, acclaimed medievalist and feminist historian Judith Bennett delivered a lecture entitled “Feminism and the Future of History.”
Kitsch mixed-media comes to Palmer Gallery
Jackson Reeves
Aaron Miller’s one-man exhibit ART, LOVE, FEAR, LIFE, DEATH, TRASH, currently being diplayed in the James W. Palmer III Gallery, showcases titular words individually spelled out in bright, distinctive silk flowers mounted on the wall.
AirCappella whistles their tunes cross-country
Gülfem Demiray
AirCappella, Vassar’s whistling-only a cappella group, was certified by the Vassar Student Association in 2005 and currently has nine members. There are many people on campus who love to whistle, and it is difficult to earn a spot in the group with the tough auditions.
Dynamo Theater Lab a morphing drama project
Sarah Rebell
Innovative, dynamic and experimental theater, the type Vassar was originally known for, is being reintroduced through the senior project Dynamo Theater Lab.
Music Box | Overlooked Albums | Converter
Mike Newmark
I went to an Autechre show a few years ago that got me thinking about the incredible endorphin-releasing power of beats, and I have to believe that this is what makes Converter’s utterly destructive Shock Front such a pleasurable experience.
Love, racism and stereotypes mark choreo-poem
Laura McCoy
Ntozake Shange’s 1974 play “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf”, is an award-winning play and choreo-poem—a compilation of 20 poems choreographed to music—that lyrically explores the search for black female identity.
Music Box | Beach House
Mike Newmark
Beach House is finding itself in a scenario in which the limitations of their seemingly faultless first record only become apparent after the quietly stunning Devotion eclipses it in nearly every way.
February 14, 2008
College recognizes alumna for public health work
Julianne Herts
This past Thursday, Feb. 7, the Alumnae and Alumni of Vassar College (AAVC) gave Laurie Schwab Zabin ’46 the 2008 Alumni and Alumnae Distinguished Achievement Award for her research and service in the field of reproductive health, particularly regarding pregnancy, contraception and sexually transmitted infections.
Clinton, McCain sweep Dutchess primaries
Christine Vines
New York was among the 24 states to vote on Feb. 5, Super Tuesday. Both locally and statewide, Hillary Clinton and John McCain swept the New York vote.
Racist graffiti found in Williams dorm
Elysia Glover
Students living in the Williams Hall East dormitory at Williams College woke up Saturday, Feb. 2 to discover that racial slurs and images of male genitalia had been scrawled on the doors and signs of their second-floor common room.The incident at Williams follows hard on the appearence of racial hate symbols on Vassar’s campus this past fall.
Vassar eliminates financial aid loads for Poughkeepsie High School graduates
Chelsea Mitamura
Vassar College will offer an expanded financial aid policy for graduates of Poughkeepsie High School (PHS), President Catharine Bond Hill announced at a gathering of PHS parents and students on Tuesday, Feb. 5.
Staff Editorial | Youth vote drives record turnout in 2008 primaries
While most Americans are focused on the dramatic give-and-take between the various political candidates, there is an encouraging broader trend occurring in the background: In all of the states that have voted thus far, voter turnout has reached record highs.
The Green Glance | Outdoor exploration promotes recreation and awareness
Nathan Zucker
Students interested in the outdoors may be eager to escape the College in order to find true wilderness. Fortunately, the Hudson River Valley and its environs provide many opportunities for hiking, snowshoeing, rock climbing and swimming.
The Voting Booth | Super Tuesday highlights super changes in election
Allison Good
So, besides John McCain’s almost inevitable nomination and a wrestling match between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, what does Super Tuesday mean? It translates into an unusually breakneck and unpredictable election, one whose results may leave historians and political analysts befuddled for years to come.
Letters to the Editor | Forum on racial tension reveals misinformation, not apathy
Letters to the Editor | Sophomore gift aids coporations, not students
Letters to the Editor | Class gift supports sustainability
Letters to the Editor | Mind the Gap a great experience
All College Day a space for community dialogue
Michael Ilardi
“Be the change.” This is the mantra for Vassar’s eighth annual All College Day, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Feb. 20. Students, faculty and staff will gather to engage one another and contribute to the on-going discussion of what forms our community.
Vassar's college radio pumps diverse sounds
Chelsea Mitamura
Sarah Siegel
Founded in 1971, WVKR is one of the largest college radio stations in the northeast, with financial donors from as far away as Hawaii and listeners from Japan to Brazil tuning in to the Web cast.
Take Back the Mug calls for safe space
Sarah Goetz
Last night, Feb. 13, Counseling and Assistance in Response to Rape and Exploitive Sexual Activity (CARES), a student-run, peer listening service, hosted Take Back the Mug Night. The event was designed to claim the Mug as a secure space and raise awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence against women.
Caucusing gives insight into local politics
Kyle Nelson
On Sunday, Feb. 10, Maine held its Democratic political caucus, and Illinois Senator Barack Obama came out on top. When I decided to journey up to Maine, however, the result of the caucus was the last thing on my mind. I was observing some of the intricacies of small-town politics and their interactions with the national presidential election.
Penetrating Questions | V-Week: A special introduction to the parts of the Vulva
Jina Ashline
V-Week is about many different things, but for me it is mostly about celebrating the beauty of the vulva. Our culture has the habit of throwing around “vagina” to mean all of the female genitalia. While the va-jay-jay is wonderful, the vagina is only one part of the whole; the vulva is the whole.
100 Nights to seniors' flight
Jesse Small
Being a matriculated student grants you roughly 1,400 days to call Vassar your academic home and yourself a Vassar student. Depending on whether or you go abroad, you may spend less than half of those days on campus. For the Class of 2008, the celebration of 100 Nights tomorrow marks the beginning of the end of their Vassar careers.
Girl Talk Rips up Vassar | Mash-up DJ to spin hits at 100 Nights
Jackson Reeves
Mash-up DJ Girl Talk became famous by creating just that sort of fun—he sampled the above songs to create his mix “Once Again.” Vassar students can bathe in his revelry this Friday, Feb. 15 at 12 a.m. when he will turn the proverbial records for the senior class’s big 100 Nights blowout in the Villard Room.
Helicon, student groups sell unique Valentines
Stephanie Damon-Moore
For Vassar students, there are plenty of creative options for wishing friends and lovers a happy Valentine’s Day.
Gregg Gillis discusses the creation of a personal genre
Chloe McConnell
On Feb. 11, The Miscellany News spoke to Gregg Gillis of Girl Talk in a telephone interview, discussing the process and results of creating sampled-based music.
The "Vagina Monologues" celebrates 10th anniversary
Sarah Rebell
V-day is celebrated around the world with performances of “The Vagina Monologues,” a play by Eve Ensler that addresses women’s sexuality and experiences. Vassar’s annual production of “The Vagina Monologues” will be performed in the Susan Stein Shiva Theater Feb. 14-16 at 8 p.m. This year’s production has been dubbed “V to the 10th” because it is V-Day’s 10th anniversary at Vassar.
Alumnus to speak of music and mind
Chloe McConnell
Music, biology and psychology—seemingly disparate fields—mark the research and writings of Vassar graduate Jamshed Bharucha ’78, who will be on campus for a three-day residency from Feb. 19-21. During his stay, Bharucha will visit classes and present a lecture on “Music, Mind and the Ineffable” in Sanders Classroom at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21.
The Misc's Guide to Valentine's Day
Molly Finkelstein
Figure out the right course of action as based on your Facebook.com relationship status.
Music Box | Jack Johnson
Mike Newmark
Jack Johnson’s soundtrack to the 2006 film Curious George was a winsome piece of folk-pop that kept everything appropriately sunny and superficial. Sleep Through the Static, Johnson’s fourth proper LP, has been pitted by publicists and Johnson himself as the melancholic yin to Curious George’s carefree yang.
Vassar on Tap steps into the dance scene
Gulfem Demiray
Jenna Lemonias ’08, a tap dancer since the first grade, brought her tap shoes to Vassar her freshman year only to discover that there was no tap dancing club on campus. Fortunately, for interested tappers like Lemonias, that is no longer the case. Vassar on Tap, Vassar’s first and only tap dance group, is now an official organization.
Men's diving makes a splash this season
Elizabeth Anderson
Six days a week the three athletes on the men’s diving team climb the few meters up to practice their aerobatic sport, breaking the surface of the cold, still water again and again. The other thing they’re breaking this season is school records.
Sports Briefs | Women's and men's fencing teams go undefeated at Wellesley Invitional
Amelia Maxfield
The Vassar women’s and men’s fencing teams had an outstanding meet last weekend, at the Wellesley Invitational on Feb. 9. Both teams went undefeated in their six rounds of play.
Sports psychology enhances mental fitness
Kelly Capehart
What aspect of athletic training is just as important as a fit cardiovascular system or a strong throwing arm, but can’t be worked on in the gym? Ask any student athlete, and they are likely to know: Mental preparedness is a vital and complicated part of playing any sport.
Athlete of the Week | Lenny Holt integral to Brewer success
Amelia Maxfield
He’s not a high scorer or an all-conference player like some of his teammates. Instead, Lenny Holt ’09 is what men’s basketball Head Coach Mike Dutton calls, “an unsung hero.”
The College Court | Who is the real Bob Knight?
Emma Carmichael
Bob Knight is done. For over 42 years he has patrolled the sidelines of Division I basketball courts, face set in his characteristic scowl.
February 07, 2008
Gail Collins will give Alex Krieger Lecture
Mike Ilardi
Gail Collins, best known as the first woman to edit the New York Times editorial page, will deliver the annual Alex Krieger Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. in the Students’ Building.
Mind the Gap encourages gratitude for alumni donors
Mike Alberti
Though Vassar’s total student costs—this year totaling $44,160—consistently rank in the top 20 most expensive colleges and universities in the country, this number is actually only a portion of what it costs the College to educate each student every year. The real cost for the 2007-2008 academic year, as determined by Director of Reunion and Class Giving Susan Sheehan, is $61,500. Donors, most of them Vassar alumnae/i, make up the difference each year.
Main hoping to make new Crossover party annual
Stephanie Damon-Moore
Many of Vassar’s parties appear to be designed around students wearing as little as possible. But a new cross-dressing party from Main House is focusing on clothing as self-expression.
Celebrating the Year of the Rat
Jesse Small
For millions of Chinese across the world, the time of renewal has come. The Chinese New Year, sometimes called Lunar New Year, begins on Feb. 7.
Weekly Spotlight: The Black Student Union
Alexandra Matthews
When Angelic Sosa ’08 stepped onto the Vassar campus for her first semester in August 2004 she felt, like all freshmen, a bit overwhelmed. “Coming here was totally different than my high school demographics…It wasn’t that I was uncomfortable being here, but it was that I needed something familiar,” said Sosa. How did she overcome these first emotions? By joining the Black Students Union (BSU), of which she is now president for the second consecutive term.
VISA hosts international Mardi Gras celebration
Sarah Goetz
Vassar students and community members put their own spin on Mardi Gras this Feb. 5 by hosting a celebration on the second floor of the Student’s Building.
Vassar Technology Today | Who is looking at your profile? You might not know
Matthew Leung
Can you see who viewed which Facebook user’s profile, when, from what location, and how many times? “I wish,” Facebook addicts are sighing. However, while Facebook claimed at its inception it would never disclose that information, several recent attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in Facebook have proved that such information can indeed be obtained.
Penetrating Questions | Yes, it is possible to be allergic to semen
Jina Ashline
Some people have allergic reactions to proteins in their partner’s semen, a condition sometimes called “human seminal plasma hypersensitivity.”
Teen Visions bring community art to Vassar
Orli Florsheim
Chloe McConnell
Contrasting somber hues and loud colors persuade the observer of Teen Vision ’08 to view scenes through the eyes of teenagers. The exhibit, which is currently being featured in the James W. Palmer III Gallery until Feb. 9, showcases 120 works of art by Poughkeepsie High School students from the Art Institute of Mill Street Loft.
Workshops showcase first-time student directors
Sarah Rebell
Want a chance to see eight plays in two nights? On Thursday, Feb. 7 and Friday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. in the Susan Stein Shiva Theatre, eight first-time student directors will present short pieces of theater. Known as Directing Workshops, this long tradition sponsored by Philaletheis, Vassar’s oldest student theater organization.
Famous actor and activist come to VCDF
Jackson Reeves
Broadway actor and folk singer Bikel and conductor Brooks come to Vassar on Feb. 12 for a week of activist lectures, discussions on and musical performances, entitled “The Arts as a Bridge to Peace.”
Women's Choir, Wind Ensemble and Mahagonny Choir conclude Modfest
Jon Roth
Artful performances and daring song choices highlighted the scope of Vassar’s musical talent during the second week of Modfest, a celebration of contemporary music. On Feb. 3 in the Skinner Hall of Music, the Vassar College Women’s Choir, Mahagonny Choir, and the Vassar College and Community Wind Ensemble convened in Skinner Hall to celebrate the close of Vassar’s sixth annual Modfest.
Music Box | The Mars Volta
Mike Newmark
No one keeps the prog-rock torch aflame in 2008 like the Mars Volta, but on The Bedlam in Goliath, the plot gets lost, the sound gets silly, and the band finds itself caught in the sucking whirlpools of misguided directions and bad ideas.
Music Box | Overlooked Albums | Seeks Who Are Lovers
Mike Newmark
About a year ago, Mexican electronic producer Ángel Sánchez appeared from out of the blue and dropped two albums under two different names. One of his projects, Antiguo Autómata Mexicano, specializes in been-there-done-that minimal techno in the vein of fellow countryman Murcof: technically accomplished, emotionally blank. The second project, by contrast, is a revelation—so affecting, so beautiful and so good at what it does that it forms its moonlit world around you and makes your heart skip a beat.
Men's volleyball team nationally ranked ninth
Kelly Capehart
Elizabeth Pacheco
“We’re a brand new team: We’ve got new faces, a new identity,” said men’s volleyball co-captain Scott Leserman ’09. For the men’s volleyball team this season is all about change. Head Coach Jonathan Penn has returned from sabbatical, and the Brewers have finally become full members the Metro Division of the North Eastern Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA).
Vassar hosts "Take a Kid to the Game"
Elizabeth Anderson
Lilian Reuman
While facilitated by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) here at Vassar, “Take A Kid to the Game&rdquo is a national program that encourages adults from the surrounding community to bring their children to football and basketball games.
DI athletes face repercussions for conduct
Rob Dauster
Despite the recent successes of the two programs, recent headlines involving the University of Connecticut’s and University of Missouri’s men’s basketball teams in the last two weeks have had more to do with suspension then shooting hoops.
Backpage | Vbay
Molly Finkelstein
Vassar, recently shown to be less endowed (financially) than Bryn Mawr and Smith, is in dire need of funds. Thus, Vassar College has decided to sell off some assets on "Vbay". Happy shopping!
Senior, sophomore class gifts announced
Christine Vines
Both the senior and sophomore class gifts were announced last week at separate kick-off events. The Class of 2008 will give additional study carrels to the Library, and the Class of 2010 will add a V-Card payment option to many vending machines on campus.
Bookstore's employees fear job loss
Hayley Tsukayama
Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1120 President Glenn Carter and Vassar CWA met on Wednesday, Jan. 30, in response to a notification informing the current bookstore employees that when the store moves off campus, it will stop employing union workers.
Community Shuttle program to begin runs next week
Gregory Armstrong
After months of planning and number crunching, a regular Vassar-sponsored shuttle service is set to start up next week. The shuttle will take members of the Vassar community to and from a number of spots throughout Poughkeepsie. The service will initially start as a “pilot program” to gauge campus response and determine how much demand for the service actually exists on campus.
Forum discusses racial tensions on campus, comes up short
Julianne Herts
A community meeting convened last Wednesday, Jan. 30 in the Villard Room to discuss the climate of the community after hate symbols, such as nooses and KKK insignia, were found around campus last term.
VSA passes resolution supporting gender-neutral housing
Brian Farkas
At its Jan. 26 meeting, the Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council unanimously passed Council Action 22-3 in support of a gender-neutral housing policy. This policy would allow sophomores, juniors and seniors to live together regardless of gender. First-year students will continue to be assigned roommates of the same gender unless they submit a request to the Office of Residential Life.
Completion of new THs may be delayed
Brian Farkas
Delayed Town Board approval might result in a holdup of construction of the new Town Houses (THs) Director of Residential Life Luis Inoa announced in an e-mail sent to all students on Feb. 1. Because of the delayed construction, that the new THs and Co-ops would be removed from the upcoming housing draw, Inoa said.
Staff Editorial | Old bookstore could serve as student art, social space
Though administrators’ minds may go to potential for the College Bookstore space to house more offices, the needs of art students should be considered. Students should have an on-campus art gallery in which to showcase their art pieces and installations.
Understanding historical context of noose is paramount
Rebecca Edwards
Hate is often embodied in symbols. Recently, one hate symbol, the noose, has surfaced in dozens of incidents nationwide. he nooses are a threat, deployed against people of color who seek an equal place as citizens, in education and in the workplace. In this way, a noose draws directly on the history of lynching.
The Green Glance | Election frontrunners finally address environmental issues
Nathan Zucker
The 2008 presidential election promises change; all of the frontrunners have been discussing significant reforms that will benefit the planet’s health. Although some of these environmentalist efforts appear sincere, it is naïve to assume that the candidates are as green as they claim.
Ron Paul's unique ideals isolate him from two-party system
Allison Good
By the time this is published, Super Tuesday will have come and gone, so what I have written may be completely irrelevant. Still, notable interest in Ron Paul-- part-libertarian and definitely not your average Republican, has grown considerably both across campus and the country
Letters to the Editor | Funding is largest obstacle to fair campaign
Letters to the Editor | Diversity 'dialogue' reveals campus apathy
February 01, 2008
Bookstore to expand, move to Juliet’s
Hayley Tsukayama
As students rush to the campus bookstore to plan for the semester ahead, Vassar College is setting its plans in motion for a new bookstore site: the Juliet Building at the corner of Raymond Avenue and Collegeview Avenue.
Jackson to leave Vassar for Kentucky
Brian Farkas
President Catharine Bond Hill announced in an all-campus e-mail Monday, Jan. 28, that Dean of the College Judy Jackson will be leaving Vassar to become Vice President for Institutional Diversity at the University of Kentucky (UK).
Colleges see national trend in financial aid expansion
Christine Vines
In December 2007, Harvard University sparked what has fast become a fiscal trend among elite colleges and universities: dramatic increases in financial aid spending.
Gov. Spitzer aims to rebuild SUNY, CUNY
Julianne Herts
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer formed a Commission on Higher Educationlast May, with the goal of putting New York State Universities on par with the State Universities of California and the University of Michigan.
Backpage
Staff Editorial | Shuttle a step toward community integration
The tenuous nature of town-gown relations has been affirmed and debated for long enough: students need a regular shuttle that originates on campus and runs in a loop around Poughkeepsie.
Empower students with gender-neutral housing
Morgan Warners
Though the residential environment at Vassar attempts to be gender-neutral in some ways, we are still not doing enough.
The Green Glance | Focus the Nation sparks new progressivism
Nathan Zucker
Scientists have confidently concluded that 2007 was the second warmest year ever recorded, lending even more evidence to the theory that humans are destabilizing the Earth’s climate.
Fringe candidates marginalized in primary races
Allison Good
While Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama duke it out, more important things are happening in the world of the 2008 election. Yes, I said it.
Letters to the Editor | Coke misrepresented facts in letter
Letters to the Editor | Writer’s view presumptive, skewed
Focus the Nation fosters environmental activism
Alexandra Matthews
“Vassar’s not here yet?!” was all that Christopher Klabes ’08 could say when he realized that Vassar was not yet part of Focus the Nation, a nationwide event to stem climate change.
Dems host debate on primaries
Julianne Hertz
Vassar college students and Poughkeepsie locals alike crowded into the Martel Theater last Monday night, eager to observe the Democratic Presidential Primary Forum.
Student voters make voices heard in early state primaries
Stephanie Damon-Moore
With Feb. 5, also known as Super Tuesday, rapidly approaching, the first handful of states have thrown their influence into the ring of political primaries. And in an unpredictable race, the youth vote has become more important than ever. How are college-aged students getting involved?
New coffeehouse percolates in Arlington
Sarah Goetz
Students looking for a bit of tea and sympathy now have a novel destination in Arlington.
Common STI is harder to treat than to prevent
Jiná Ashline
Columnist
Let’s start at the beginning. HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus, and refers to a group of common viruses that will infect most people at some point in their lives. According to Baldwin Medical Center, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) seen at Vassar.
Modfest brings modern arts to Vassar
Chloe McConnell and Sara Wilf
Many Vassar students do not consider non-rhythmic classical compositions and cartoon-like drawings as significant artistic achievements. With the hopes of broadening students’ horizons, Vassar is hosting the sixth annual Modfest on the weekends of Jan. 25 and Feb. 1.
Three poets discuss politics, racism and gender
Sarah Siegel
The First Year Experience program’s latest installment, “3 Poets, 1 Mic,” captivated students gathered into the Student Center on Jan. 22. The event featured three poets presenting interrogations of race, gender and class.
Music Box | Vampire Weekend
Mike Newmark
You could call Vampire Weekend the Minutemen of the 21st century. Though singer/guitarist Ezra Koenig is more likely to greet you with a cheery wave than the late D. Boon, both bands’ defining characteristic is their propensity to overlay leftfield genres onto a solid foundation of user-friendly punk.
Super Bowl XLII a battle for east supremacy
Rob Dauster
It’s a Super Bowl that’s guaranteed to be epic—no matter who wins. The New England Patriots, an 18-0 team led by all-star quarterback Tom Brady, are looking to make National Football League history.
The College Court | Mental motivation: More mental than inspiration
Emma Carmichael
Picture this. It’s six in the morning on a Monday and you’ve already been up for an hour. You trudged across the deserted campus, kicking through piles of snow and ignoring the fact that not even scavenging squirrels are out at this hour.
